Electrical acupuncture eye treatment

ABSTRACT

A system and method for eye treatment. The system and method utilize an electro acupuncture stimulator. The electro acupuncture stimulator includes a positive lead and a negative lead. The system further includes a pair of first needles, a second needle and a diode. The pair of first needles are electrically connected to one of the positive lead and the negative lead. The diode is electrically connected to the other of the positive lead and the negative lead. The second needle is electrically connected to the diode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/393,723, filed Sep. 13, 2016, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to eye treatment and, more particularly,to a system and method of treating vision degradation usingelectro-acupuncture.

Aging, genetics and disease can cause degradation of a patient's vision.For example, retinopathies consisting of macular degeneration, diabeticretinopathies, and retinitis pigmentosa all cause degradation of vision.

As can be seen, there is a need for a system and method for improvingvision degradation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a system for eye (s) treatmentcomprises: an electro acupuncture stimulator comprising of a positivelead and a negative lead; an acupuncture needle electrically connectedto a positive lead is inserted into the bony orbital area of the eye andthe negative lead from the eye circuit is connected to the appropriatepolarity pole of the diode and another wire from the appropriatepolarity pole of the diode connects to an acupuncture needle that isinserted superficially into the bony area of the sternum serving as aground for the entire circuit.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of eye treatmentcomprises the steps of: penetrating a patient's skin with one of a pairof first needles at a lower orbital area of a first eye; penetrating thepatient's skin with the other of the pair of first needles at a lowerorbital area of a second eye; penetrating the patient's skin with asecond needle at a sternum; electrically connecting the second needle toa diode; electrically connecting one of a positive lead and a negativelead of an electro acupuncture stimulator to the pair of first needles;electrically connecting the other of the positive lead and the negativelead of the electro acupuncture stimulator to the diode; and poweringthe electro acupuncture stimulator.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2G are schematic views illustrating steps of an embodiment of amethod of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes an electro-acupuncture system and methodfor improving low vision caused by retinopathies; for example, maculardegeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa. The presentinvention improves patients having very poor eye vision from varioustypes of retinopathies.

The system and method of the present invention includes electricalstimulation of BL1 and Ren17 with an electroacupuncture stimulator at2-10 Hz. The present invention uses a diode to maintain the current inthe retinal area of the eye using bone conduction at the acupuncturepoints. The present invention includes a unique conduction system usingbone of the patient to reach the bony structure surrounding the retinaand permitting indirect stimulation. The diode prevents the stimulatingcurrent from returning to the sternum area.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention includes a system 10 for eyetreatment. The system 10 includes an electro acupuncture stimulator 16.The electro acupuncture stimulator 16 includes a positive lead 18 and anegative lead 18. The system 10 further includes a pair of first needles26 a, a second needle 26 b and a diode 22. The pair of first needles 26a are electrically connected to one of the positive lead 18 and thenegative lead 18. The diode 22 is electrically connected to the other ofthe positive lead 18 and the negative lead 18. The second needle 26 b iselectrically connected to the diode 22.

In certain embodiments, the pair of first needles 26 a are electricallyconnected to the positive lead 18 and the diode 22 is electricallyconnected to the negative lead 18. Alternatively, the pair of firstneedles 26 a are electrically connected to the negative lead 18 and thediode 22 is electrically connected to the positive lead 18.

The electrical connections are made by electrical wiring 20. Electricalwires 20 electrically connect the pair of first needles 26 a to theelectro acupuncture stimulator 16 by an electrical connector 24, such asa clip, wrapped wires and the like. Electrical wires 20 electricallyconnect the second needle 26 b to the diode 22 by an electricalconnector 24. Electrical wires 20 electrically connect the diode 22 tothe electro acupuncture stimulator 16.

The pair of first needles 26 a may be a pair of needles used topenetrate skin at the lower orbital area 12 of the eye corresponding toBL1 (an acupuncture point). In such embodiments, each of the pair offirst needles 26 a may include about a 9 mm length and about a 0.12 mmdiameter. The second needle 26 b may be a needle used to penetrate theskin at the sternum acupuncture point REN 17 14 of a patient. In suchembodiments, the second needle 26 b may include about a 30 mm length andabout a 0.2 mm diameter.

The blocking diode 22 ensures output from electro acupuncture stimulator16 produces a square wave of positive polarity causing a smalloscillation of about 3 hz of the 2 hz stimulation signal base line. Theblocking diode 22 converts a full wave to ½ wave while keeping thecurrent in the eye and not the chest.

Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention may further include a method.The method may include the following steps: penetrating a patient's skinwith one of a pair of first needles at a lower orbital area of a firsteye 100; penetrating the patient's skin with the other of the pair offirst needles at a lower orbital area of a second eye 110; penetratingthe patient's skin with a second needle at a sternum 120; electricallyconnecting the second needle to a diode 130; electrically connecting oneof a positive lead and a negative lead of an electro acupuncturestimulator to the pair of first needles 140; electrically connecting theother of the positive lead and the negative lead of the electroacupuncture stimulator to the diode 150; and powering the electroacupuncture stimulator 160. The above steps may be performed for about30 minutes at a time and repeated about every 24 hours.

The pair of first needles may be inserted at a depth to touch an orbitalbone of the first eye and the second eye. For example, the depth may beat about 7 mm within the skin. The second needle is at a depth of about3 mm to about 4 mm within the skin.

The bandwidth of electro acupuncture stimulator is around 400 ms and theamplitude is about 2 milliamps. An electrical supply of the electroacupuncture stimulator is at a frequency of about 2 hz to about 10 hz,about 2 hz to about 5 hz or about 3 hz to about 4 hz.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of eye treatment comprising the stepsof: penetrating a patient's skin with one of a pair of first needles ata lower orbital area of a first eye at a depth to touch an orbital boneof the first eye; penetrating the patient's skin with the other of thepair of first needles at a lower orbital area of a second eye at a depthto touch an orbital bone of the second eye; penetrating the patient'sskin with a second needle at a sternum; electrically connecting thesecond needle to a diode; electrically connecting one of a positive leadand a negative lead of an electro acupuncture stimulator to the pair offirst needles; electrically connecting the other of the positive leadand the negative lead of the electro acupuncture stimulator to thediode; and generating, with the electro acupuncture stimulator,electrical stimulation of the lower orbital bones by the pair of firstneedles, wherein retinas of said first and second eye are indirectlystimulated.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pair of first needlesare at a depth of about 7 mm within the skin.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the second needle is at a depth of about 3 mm to about 4 mmwithin the skin.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein an electrical supplyof the electro acupuncture stimulator is at a frequency of about 2 hz toabout 10 hz.